Adani’s lack of competence demonstrates a lack of respect for us all

Friday, May 3, 2019: The Queensland Government’s Department of Environment and Science has told Adani that their plan to manage the proposed mine’s impacts on the endangered black-throated finch is inadequate.

This is yet another example of the failure of this company to meet the standards expected of the mining industry in Australia.

We have lost 29 Australian bird species in the last 200 years, and Australians don’t want to see more extinctions on our watch. The Adani mine, if it were to proceed, would remove one of the last remaining habitats for the black-throated finch. Adani’s plan to “save” this bird included a proposal to relocate the last of the species to a habitat that happens to sit on land owned by Clive Palmer – and is under a current proposal for another coal mine that would remove that habitat.

An endangered bird threatened by the proposed Adani Carmichael mine. Photo credit: Eric Vanderduys

“Adani’s proposal has faced severe criticism from ecologists and it is good to see science guiding the assessment of the Queensland Government. Australians expect that if you want access to our public assets you must take your responsibilities seriously,” stated Glen Klatovsky, CEO of 350 Australia.

Adani has been prosecuted on several occasions for their poor environmental performance. They are under investigation for drilling bores without permission at their mine site, facing court charges for coal spill pollution, and have been fined for polluting sensitive wetlands next to their coal port.

“Adani has again and again demonstrated a lack of respect for the standards Australians expect,” said Mr Klatovsky. “With this track record governments are right to thoroughly scrutinise Adani’s plans designed to protect the environment.”

“The reason this mine has failed to meet the criteria for approval is because Adani has failed to deliver adequate plans for how it will deal with the environmental consequences of the mine. This is incompetence, plain and simple,” concluded Mr Klatovsky.

For interviews:

Glen Klatovsky, CEO, 350 Australia on 0410 482243